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The New York Times is raising eyebrows among critics over how it characterized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the U.S.-based group that has become a target of anti-Israel advocates.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted on a bill brought by outgoing anti-Israel Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to cut military and humanitarian aid funding to Israel, which ultimately failed to pass but still earned majority support among Democratic lawmakers, resulting 103-98. Massie was the sole Republican vote.
In the Times’ report on the vote, it highlighted how Democrats have increasingly vowed not to accept donations from AIPAC, which historically gave to both Democrats and Republicans who are supportive of Israel and its alliance with the U.S. Among those who have committed not to accept AIPAC money is Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.
“Mr. Moulton, who is running for Senate, has also said he would no longer accept donations from AIPAC, the hard-right pro-Israel lobbying group that has recently become a toxic brand among Democrats,” the Times wrote.
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The New York Times raised eyebrows with its characterization of the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Founded in 1954, AIPAC says its mission is to “encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel,” and that it helps “elect Democrats and Republicans who support the alliance.”
Prominent Democrats once joined Republicans in speaking at AIPAC’s annual Policy Conference, which hasn’t been held since the COVID pandemic. Among the top Democrats who spoke at its last conference in March 2020 were Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. and then former Vice President Joe Biden via a video message. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spoke at the conference the year prior while serving as House speaker — she notably voted in favor of defunding money to Israel this week while Jeffries voted against the bill.
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who voted in favor of the anti-Israel funding bill, was a featured speaker at AIPAC’s annual policy conference in 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Critics on social media were puzzled by the Times’ description of the pro-Israel group.
“@anniekarni , a veteran NYT reporter, published a piece tn which she calls AIPAC a ‘hard-right lobbying group.’ What possible defense can you have of this formulation about an organization whose staff is probably 70 percent Democratic, Annie? Is it fun joining the jackals?” Commentary Magazine editor John Podhoretz called out the Times reporter on Friday.
“I wish AIPAC was hard right. Or even kind of right,” New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz reacted.
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“AIPAC is a bunch of left-center squishes. It’s only ‘hard right’ if you think Israel defending itself is ‘extreme,'” California Post opinion editor Joel Pollak wrote.
“Shows how detached from reality a lot of media coverage of Israel has become. Most pro-Israel Jews are Democrats!” Jewish Insider editor-in-chief Josh Kraushaar exclaimed.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), led by its president, Michael Tuchin, has become a prominent target among anti-Israel progressives. (Mandel NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Neither The New York Times nor AIPAC responded to Digital’s requests for comment.
In the post-Oct. 7 political climate, support for Israel has dropped dramatically among Democrats while maintaining a much larger swath among Republicans. AIPAC itself has widely been scapegoated by anti-Israel advocates, many of whom falsely push the narrative that the Jewish state is buying influence through AIPAC despite the fact that AIPAC is an American organization run by pro-Israel U.S. citizens.
Standing against Israel has become a litmus test for the progressive base of the Democratic Party for political hopefuls and is widely expected to be a major issue during the 2028 presidential election.
‘ Brian Flood contributed to this report.
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